A coroner’s inquest into the workplace death of Jamie Harris has resulted in several recommendations aimed at improving safety in the construction industry. Harris, a worker at Perfection Contracting, died from injuries sustained during a water main break repair in Dieppe, N.B., on Aug. 21, 2023.
The two-day inquest, held at the Moncton courthouse, concluded that Harris’s death was accidental. The five-member jury, after hearing testimony from nine witnesses, outlined recommendations for both the employer and WorkSafeNB.
For Perfection Contracting, the jury called for a two-person safety checklist at the start and end of each shift, increased risk and safety awareness training through the New Brunswick Construction Safety Association, and enhanced communication tools such as sensors, headsets, or radio-enabled earbuds near heavy equipment. The recommendations also included stricter equipment maintenance, requiring immediate repairs to excavator mirrors or the use of protective cages similar to those in forestry, as well as ensuring spotters remain in place while machinery is in operation.
WorkSafeNB was urged to advocate for a provincewide two-person checklist requirement, introduce mandatory certification and recertification for heavy equipment operators, and implement a policy on maximum work hours to address fatigue-related impairment. Other recommendations included harsher, tiered penalties for safety violations and unannounced site inspections.
The recommendations will be sent to the appropriate agencies for review and response, which will be included in the chief coroner’s 2025 annual report. While an inquest does not assign legal responsibility, its findings are intended to help prevent future workplace fatalities.
